SRS, I wouldn't see the USB ports as a problem. I've got one with 4 ports and the others have 2. The power strip I got for Pip's computer also has USB ports on it and it seems to work OK, My end of the world, I use an 8 port hub. I use USB switching device too as a method of sharing devices between 3 computers. I suppose it could be a problem if every device was used at the same time (I guess on a hub you are sharing bandwith for all devices) but thats not a situation that occurs here - I would't be scanning, printing and playing with MIDI at the same time.

It is surprising how quickly you can use the ports up though. Currently I've got 2 printers, 1 scanner, 1 card reader and 1 MIDI device on my shared part of the system. It leaves me with a couple of spare ports but there is no telling what I may want or do in the future.

I would not want a PC with no free expansion slots even if it seemed like it had everything in I wanted at the time of purchase. Again, it comes down to me not knowing what I may want to do in the future